BATESVILLE — A local Indiana lawn and garden center is celebrating the spooky season by paying tribute to the late “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne, with a massive, artistically carved pumpkin.
The 5 Oaks Lawn and Garden Center in Batesville is currently displaying a 500-pound gourd carved into the likeness of the legendary Black Sabbath co-founder. The rock icon, known for his dark persona and famously biting a bat’s head on stage, passed away in July at the age of 76.
The gargantuan pumpkin was a gift from a regular customer to 5 Oaks. An unnamed artist carved it at the recent Operation Pumpkin Fall Festival in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Shop owners at 5 Oaks have been granted permission by the customer to display the impressive work of art for as long as it lasts. To fight the natural decay of the pumpkin, owners have applied a special preservative spray and hope the portrait will remain intact for at least two more weeks.
The unique tribute—which captures the spirit of the Halloween season and the late rocker’s love for the “dark, twisted and weird”—has already begun drawing attention. Batesville is approximately a two-hour drive, or just under 74 miles, from Bedford.
Visitors can view the Ozzy Osbourne pumpkin in person at 5 Oaks Lawn and Garden Center, located off State Road 129 in Batesville.
